Twine-holder.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN B. TILY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TWINE-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 666,577, dated January 22, 1901.

Application filed March 3, 1900- Serial No. 7,189. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itv known that I, STEPHEN B. TILY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvementsin Twine-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to construct a string-box in which the ball of twine will be prevented from unwinding without The twine is withdrawn from the box in a certain direction. This object I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of my improved twine-box. Fig. 2 is a sectional View showing the string being withdrawn from the box. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the string held, preventing the unwinding of the ball; and Fig. 4 is a view of a modification.

A is a string-box adapted to be secured to the under side of a counter or table in any suitable manner. The box in the present instance is provided with lugs at, having openings for the attaching-screws.

B is the front of the box, pivoted at b b to the casing A and engaged by a spring a, attached by a rivet or screw at c to the casing. The spring passes through a perforated lug in the casing and has a T-head engaging the lugs b on the lid.

b is the opening through which the string passes, and pivoted in front of the opening to a lug b is a carrier D, having a roller d, which is adapted to bear against the lower edge of the opening 19 The carrier has a cross-bar d in front of the roller.

The box is of sufficient size to receive an ordinary ball of twine, as shown in Fig. 2, and the twine is passed through the opening b under the roller (Z of the carrier and then up between the roller and the cross-bar d, as shown.

Large quantities of string are wasted in stores by the end of the string trailing on the floor and catching in the feet of the wrappers,

so that the ball readily unravels before the string is noticed, and the string is tangled and has to be out. By my improvement I provide means which will prevent the unwinding of the ball unless it is withdrawn from the box in one direction. In the present instance the parts are so arranged that the string must be withdrawn upward, thus moving the carrier out, as indicated by the arrow, Fig. 2, so that the roller will be clear of the edge of the opening 29 As soon as the wrapper relaxes the tension on the string the weight of the carrier causes it to fall back and bind the string between the roller and the edge of the opening. If the loose end of the string is drawn upon in a downward direction, as in Fig. 3, it will force the carrier in, and the morethe string is pulled upon the greater will be the pressure of the roller against the string and binding it against the edge of the opening, thus preventing the ball from unwinding.

I find that the weight of the carrier is sufficient to hold it in place; but a light spring may be used to force its roller against the casing, as shown in Fig. 4. This may be used when the box is in a position where the carrier D will not operate by gravity.

A bar may be used in place of the roller (1, if desired, as in Fig. 4, although the roller is preferred.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination in a twine-holder, of a box, an opening in the box, a pivoted carrier, two cross members on the carrier, one member situated in front of the opening and making contact with the box at the opening, the other member being situated back of the firstmentioned member, the string being adapted to pass from the box through the opening under the member making contact with the box and over the other member, so that when the string is drawn in one direction it will tend to move the carrier away from the opening and when drawn in the opposite direction it will tend to force the carrier toward the opening and pinch the string, substantially as described.

2. The combination in a twine-holder, of a box having an opening at one side, a pivoted carrier suspended in front of said opening and having two cross members, one member so situated as to make contact with the box at the opening, the other member being back of the first-mentioned member, the string being adapted to pass from the box through the opening under one member and over the other, substantially as described.

3. The combination in a twine-holder, of a carrier pivoted to the lug, a roller mounted boX for the twine, an opening in one side of on the carrier and bearing against the edge the box, a lug projecting above the opening, of the opening, and 5 cross-bar in front of i 5 a carrier suspended from the lug, a roller the roller, substantially as described.

5 mounted on the carrier in front of the open- In testimony whereof I have signed my ing in the box, and a cross-bar back of the name to this specification in the presence of roller, the twine adapted to pass from the box two subscribing witnesses. under the roller and over the bar, substantially as described. STEPHEN TILY' 1o 4. The combination in a string-box having Witnesses:

a pivoted side, an opening in said pivoted \VILL. A. BARR, side, a log projecting above the opening, a JAMES C. KRAYER. 

